
Air Fryer Donuts
Recipe from John Kanell · original post · full recipe on preppykitchen.com
Fluffy yeasted donuts with a crisp golden shell, cooked in the air fryer and dipped in a sweet vanilla glaze.
Ingredients
- whole milk — divided360 ml
- active dry yeast7 g
- granulated sugar — divided55 g
- unsalted butter — melted and divided113 g
- large egg — at room temperature1 ea
- all-purpose flour — plus extra for dusting360 g
- salt — ½ tsp3 g
- olive oil cooking spray1 ea
- powdered sugar360 g
- vanilla extract — ½ tsp2.5 ml
Method
- Warm 240 ml of the milk to 105 to 110°F (40 to 43°C). In a small bowl, whisk together the warm milk, yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Let stand until very bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, whisk together 85 g of the melted butter, the egg and the remaining sugar until smooth. Stir in the yeast mixture. Add the flour and salt and mix on low speed until a shaggy dough forms. Increase to medium-low and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes (the dough will be slightly sticky).
- Transfer the dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly dust with flour.
- Punch down the dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll it into a 1/2-inch (1.3 cm) thick rectangle. Using a donut cutter (or 3-inch and 1-inch round cutters), cut out 12 donuts and 12 donut holes, re-rolling scraps as needed. Place on the prepared sheet, loosely cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes. Spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Working in batches, place the donuts in an even layer in the basket about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart and lightly spray the tops with oil.
- Cook for 6 minutes for donut holes and 8 minutes for big donuts, or until golden brown (cook the big donuts and holes separately, since their times differ).
- For the glaze: in a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, the remaining 120 ml milk, the remaining melted butter and the vanilla until smooth. Dip the warm donuts and holes in the glaze and set on a wire rack for about 5 minutes to set. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Cooking for a different diet?
Swaps that keep this dish what it is. The prices on this page are for the recipe as written.
Vegan
- 360 ml Soy milk instead of whole milk
- 113 g Dairy-free butter instead of unsalted butter
- Leave out the large egg
Warm the soy milk to the same temperature for the yeast and leave out the egg, adding a tablespoon more soy milk if the dough feels stiff; rising and air-frying times are unchanged.
Dairy-free
- 360 ml Soy milk instead of whole milk
- 113 g Dairy-free butter instead of unsalted butter
Warm the soy milk for the yeast exactly as the milk and melt the dairy-free butter the same way; all times are unchanged.
Swaps are suggestions — check labels if you are cooking for an allergy.
Watch it on Instagram
What it costs, and where to buy it
Each item at whichever of your shops sells it cheapest.
Shops to compare
List price at each shop
Missing items
These totals leave part of the list out, so a lower one isn't a cheaper shop.
New WorldBest choiceyou pay $41.73 · 68% spare
$13.36
missing 2 items
Pak'nSaveyou pay $23.83 · 57% spare
$10.28
missing 3 items
Woolworths NZyou pay $30.26 · 84% spare
$4.83
missing 4 items
$1.11a serve
from $1.11 a serve at New World · 8 of 10 ingredients priced
About $13.36 of ingredients used for 12 serves.
$45.62 across 3 shops · 9 of 10 items priced · $4.31 more for bigger packs, 62% spare for later
$13.36
missing 2 items
you'll pay $41.73 · 68% of it spare
$10.28
missing 3 items
you'll pay $23.83 · 57% of it spare
$4.83
missing 4 items
you'll pay $30.26 · 84% of it spare
Buy at
Pak'nSave$15.95

active dry yeast
$3.33/100g
need 7 gPams All Purpose Active Yeast 100g$4.99
Pak'nSave$3.33/100g$4.99·
New World$3.59/100g$5.39·
Woolworths NZN/A

granulated sugar
$0.38/100g
need 55 gPams Icing Sugar 100g$1.89closest match
Pak'nSave$0.38/100g$1.89·
New World$0.50/100g$2.09·
Woolworths NZ$2.19

all-purpose flour
$0.13/100g
need 360 gPams Pure Plain Flour 100g$1.89closest match
Pak'nSave$0.13/100g$1.89·
Woolworths NZ$2.00·
New World$0.13/100g$2.00

olive oil cooking spray
$3.33/100g
need 1 itemPams Olive Oil Cooking Spray 150g$4.99 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)
Pak'nSave$3.33/100g$4.99·
Woolworths NZN/A·
New WorldN/A

powdered sugar
$0.22/100g
need 360 gPams Icing Sugar 100g$2.19closest match
Pak'nSave$0.22/100g$2.19·
New World$0.50/100g$2.09·
Woolworths NZ$2.39
Buy at
New World$19.17

whole milk
$1.90/100g
need 360 mlPams Instant Whole Milk Powder 400g$7.59 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)
New World$1.90/100g$7.59·
Pak'nSave$1.13/100g$11.29·
Woolworths NZN/A

large egg
$9.99
need 1 itemFarmer Brown Free Range Large Size 7 Eggs 12 pack
New World$9.99·
Woolworths NZ$10.29·
Pak'nSaveN/A

salt
$0.02/10g
need 3 gPams Iodised Table Salt 1kg$1.59closest match
New World$0.02/10g$1.59·
Pak'nSave$0.01/10g$1.49·
Woolworths NZ$2.89
Buy at
Woolworths NZ$10.50

unsalted butter
$10.50
need 113 gMainland butter unsalted 500g
Woolworths NZ$10.50·
Pak'nSave$3.20/100g$6.39·
New World$2.20/100g$10.99
Not priced
- vanilla extract · 2.5 ml